Improvement in projectiles for smooth-bored guns



J. L. McCONNEL.

Projectile.

Patented July 28, 1857.

m ws NiTE STATES ATENT rrron JOHN L. MCCONNEL, OF JAOKSONVILLE, ILLINOIS.

Specifioation forming part of Letters Patent No. 17,856, datcd July 28, 1857.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN L. MoCoNNEL, of J acksonville, in the county of Morgan and State of Illinois, have invented a new and iniproved mode of giving to military projectiles, shot and shell, directness and certainty of flight and increased destructiveness; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon- Figure 1 being a perspective View of the l ball or shell, Fig. 2 being a transverse section of the same, and Fig. 3 being a longitudinal section of a gun, showing the shape of chamber adaptcd to the projectile.

The nature of my invention consists in casting all projectiles egg-shaped, (according to p roportions hereinafter laid down,) with spiral grooves or shoulde's running froni a point near the head of the proj ectile toward its point, so as to cross its axis (or long diameter) at its greatest transverse (or short) diameter, and being in depth at that point about one-twentieth of the short diameter, and dininishing toward each end in proportion to the curve of the surface, and thus running out. Adapted to the shape is the chamber, as seen in Fig. 3. (The figure, as shown, is a cannon; but my invention is designed for all. smooth-bored guns.)

In Fig. l (the perspective View of the projectile) the proportion of the two dianieters A B and C D is ten to fifteen, nine of the long diameter lying in the rear of their point oi" intersection and six forward of it. The spiral grooves or shouldcrs are indicated by the letters a a a.

In Fig. 2 (a transverse section of the same) a a (a a a indicate the groovcs or shoulders, and show the segnents of circles which the depressions are eachdesigned to be.

In Fig. 3 (the gun) A indicates the bore; a a, the curves by which it runs into the cartridge-chamber; C, the chaniber itself; B, the projectile, represented in the position itis designed to give it-viz., the large end toward the inuzzle of the gun. D is the vent.

hat I claim as niy invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

Thc improvement of the projectiles known as the egg-shapcd, which consists in so grooving the surface, as described, that when discharged froni any smooth-bored gun, with. the larger end forenost, the combined eii'ccts of the center of gravity being in front and the groovcs (acted upon by atnospheric pressure) shall give to the projectile an aceuracy of fiight, when so fired, similar to that produced by the rifle and approximating thereto.

J. L. MGCONN EL.

\Vitnesscs:

B. D. DAWSON, J. C. SKEEN. 

